New Transforming Schools Toolkit Resources

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Transforming Schools Toolkit

Planning and Coordination of Schoolwide Efforts

Trauma-engaged practice is most effective with the steady support of the entire school community. Crafting a plan that allows school staff, families and key partners to be part of the transformation process can help generate buy-in and develop consistent language and practices throughout the school and community.

District Leaders, School Staff, Counselors, Community Members all have different roles and networks to help Transform Schools.

Highlights in this section:

  • Checklist of planning outcomes (components, characteristics
  • Data Reflection Tool
  • Scanning tool
  • Plan template
  • Key questions for leadership teams
  • Example agenda flows
  •  Roles in Communication
  • Transforming Schools team builder
  • Tools for maintaining the momentum
  • Tips for facilitators

Goal/Outcome:

To build whole-district and school-wide approaches that has greater staying power. Included are specific tools to develop a team, a planning process and plan that establishes broad buy-in, shared understanding, shared vision, and specific programmatic changes.

Implementation Steps for Leadership or Team:

  1. Develop clear message and conversation tools to gauge awareness and readiness for Transforming Schools trauma-engaged schools efforts.
  2. Build a leadership team to prepare for school and district-wide efforts.
  3. Outline leadership team organizer responsibilities
  4. Set a clear process for planning and coordination outlining agendas and outcomes (review checklist of planning outcomes).
  5. Gather and analyze data and information. Association of Alaska Schools Boards or Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development can help gather or analyze data.
  6. Work through the process outlined to develop a school-wide plan.
  7. Customize the steps to fit your com- munity’s needs and style, following the broad principles of collaboration, intentionality, and discussion.
  8. Incorporate plan, do, reflect, act or approach to make quality improvements.

Steps for Staff:

  1. Have a clear vision and a strategic direction for promoting trauma-engaged practices.
  2. Contribute to or support school-wide plan for Transforming Schools.  Determine specific classroom and school-wide approaches you will use to reach plan goals.
  3. Develop shared language and common understanding of trauma and whole school social and emotional practices.
  4. Work with other school staff, families, and administrators to shift mindsets and norms to support Trauma-Engaged schools.
  5. Incorporate agreed on classroom practices and instructional techniques.
  6. Identify and share tools, policies, learning approaches to share.
  7. Review and reflect on school-wide  practices.

Reflection Questions:

  • How have school staff and administrators developed a common understanding of trauma and their role in creating a trauma engaged school?
  • What data has been used to understand students, family and school context?
  • Reviewing the steps and components of whole school approach to trauma-engaged schools, what might be helpful getting ready or during your planning process?
  • How can local and regional partners participate in planning?
  • What does an effective trauma-engaged school leadership team look like?
  • Looking at some of the tools including plan templates, agenda prompts, and other discussion methods which tools will you’re your team get started?
  • Have you identified or do you have trained facilitators to support this process?
  • What communication and documentation tools will be important to share?

Tools (Templates, Examples, Inventories):

Data Reflection Tool 4(a)

  • The data reflection tool(s) provides suggestions of data to review and questions to reflect on to better understand your school, students, and community. This can help help prioritize needs or focus for your Transforming Schools Plan. (link)

Conversation Prompts 4(b)

  • Another way to understand Trauma Engaged Schools is through conversations, dialogues or focused conversations. The conversation prompts provide some questions for considering. (link)

Trauma Engaged Practice Scan 4(c)

  • In addition to the assessment, the Trauma Engaged Scan offers one tool to gather information on strengths and gaps. (link)

Plan template for sites, districts, and individuals 4(d)

  • One example template is provided to document your shared vision, theory of change, key actions, and responsibilities for your Trauma Engaged Plan. (link)

Building the Leadership Team 4(e)

  • This document provides an overview and some steps that administrators or trauma engaged champions take to organize a strong leadership team. (link)

Roles of  the Leadership Teams  4(f)

  • Once the leadership team is recruited, many leadership team members seek clarity around their roles. This document provides an overview of roles the leadership team might take. (link)

Agendas for Leadership Teams 4 (g)

  • This document provides an overview of topics for leadership teams and a few example agendas to help the leadership team determine the outcomes of the meeting. (link)

Facilitation Tips and Questions 4 (h)

  • This document provides ideas when preparing to facilitate the meeting. Effective facilitators use common strategies for ensuring that all voices are shared, heard, and incorporated into the plan. Some tips are provided here. 

Maintaining the Leadership Team 4(i)

  • This tool provides milestones during the first few years of your Transforming Schools work. Leadership teams can use this to review quarterly or annual progress.

Communication tools within each role 4(j)

  • This document offers questions and considerations for how to share your message on trauma-engaged schools.

Training and Professional Learning (PPT, Agendas, Discussion Guides):

  • Training and Workshops (link)
  • Institute for Cultural Affairs (link)
  • AASB Facilitator Training (link)
  • First Alaskans Host Training (link)

There are skilled facilitators and hosts across the state please contact info@aasb.org if you would like a suggestion.

Additional Resources (Websites, Articles, Books, videos):

  • For Facilitators  (link)
  • Host Training Agreements  (link)
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